There is something decidedly old about the holiday season.
People will start frothing at the mouth at the slightest opportunity to discuss the holiday traditions that they partake in, and everyone’s favorite festive, classic films are usually nestled amongst them. When December rolls around, whispers of classic holiday films start filling the crisp winter air.
And when I say “classic holiday films,” I mean Christmas films.
It unfortunately appears that those who celebrate other holidays are not quite as prolific in their filmmaking. Sadly, Hanukkah films amount to little more than “Eight Crazy Nights” (I am so sorry, Jewish cinephiles). Kwanzaa gets even less. Other than a little-known documentary called “The Black Candle,” Kwanzaa is only casually mentioned in films. And I personally hold out hope every year for a Festivus-themed movie.
But I digress…let’s go back to the key word “classic.”
Some more modern-day holiday films have snuck past the veterans in recent years, like “Elf” (2003) or “The Polar Express” (2004), but, even then, there haven’t been any prizewinners.
Most holiday films flop, or, at best, are regarded as mediocre. Any offshoot of the Christmas classic that dares to switch gears and, say, present an imperfect Christmas story or, as previously mentioned, serve as an alternative to Christmas, at best is labeled as “cute” and gets shuffled into the mix, always just past the likes of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Holiday Inn,” “A Christmas Story”… the classics.
Why? Because we like tradition.
But that doesn’t cheapen the classics. While we here at Midtown Cinema wait for a truly diverse option of holiday films, we will continue to show those that we have readily available to us—those that have become our tradition. Every year, we play “It’s a Wonderful Life” a number of times, as well as “The Bishop’s Wife” and “White Christmas.” This year, we will also be playing “A Christmas Story” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” And you can’t forget the laugh-out-loud tradition “Santa Claus Conquers The Martians,” this time heralded (i.e. mocked) by the Down in Front! crew.
Each year, our traditions have the opportunity to grow and encompass those who celebrate differently. I, for one, will always have an open ear to other holiday traditions. So, maybe this month, we fall back on a classic Christmas. But, with a little dialogue and a lot of hope for Hollywood, maybe next year Santa won’t be the only one gracing our screens.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Midnight Matinee
“Gremlins”
Saturday, Dec. 5, 11:55 p.m.
Classic Film Series
“It’s A Wonderful Life”
Sunday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 24, 7 p.m.
“The Bishop’s Wife”
Sunday, Dec. 13, 6 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 23, 7 p.m.
“White Christmas”
Saturday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 25, 7 p.m.
Down in Front!
“Santa Claus Conquers The Martians”
Friday, Dec. 11, 9:30 p.m.
3rd in the Burg! $3 Movie
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
Friday, Dec. 18, 9:30 p.m.
Faulkner-Honda Family Film Series
“A Christmas Story”
Saturday, Dec. 19, 12 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20, 2 p.m.
